Bolt of Blue

Blur reunion madness started with last Saturday’s show to 150 people at the East Anglian Railway Museum… the scene of one of their first public performances ever. Videos are now popping up:

Lots more here. They followed that up by playing a last minute surprise gig at Rough Trade records last night in London. 11 more shows between now and July 12 including their 2 sold out shows at Hyde Park. Lots of speculation they’ll announce more European and US tour dates soon. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!

Ash has released their new single Return of White Rabbit online for download. It’s fun, catchy, and very infectious. Typical Ash in that way but the song has a more electro sound that definitely moves away from their last album release Twilight Of The Innocents.

You can download the song for free on their website. The limited edition 7″ is already sold out of course.

Starting in October and with the letter A, the band will release a new single every 2 weeks running through the alphabet. All 26 songs will from the “A-Z series” of singles… since they are not going to be releasing full length albums anymore. No longer chained to a major label, they’re doing this through their own Atomic Heart Records and using their website to distribute their music.

It’s been two years since their last album… and coming in the fall, I can’t wait to get new Ash songs every 2 weeks. Talk about getting spoiled. I wonder if there are any bands out there watching to see how this works out.

Dang, this guy is catchy (and cute to boot)!

The T in the Park line up this year kills me.

JAMES, Keane, Snow Patrol, Franz Ferdinand, the Killers, BLUR… If only DD were added, then I think I’d explode.

Damon and Graham performed last Thursday together for the first time publicly in 10 years at the NME awards. Amazing… sigh.

It’s almost the weekend. And it’s pouring rain outside. I love the rain. Even if it makes LA drivers ridiculous and stupid.

We got into the Franz Ferdinand instore but they didn’t do a signing. It was a long wait but well worth it. They are AWESOME. So much energy, sounded fantastic, and so much FUN. A few photos up on Flickr*. We were too far back and my camera sucks.

*I’m going to try to post up the hundreds of photos I’ve taken over the years from so many concerts, instores, signings, etc. to Flickr as it’s much easier than hosting it all myself anymore… plus I’ve figured out a good way to organize it.

GV finally announced the line-up.

First impression: WAY better than last year.

Second impression: This needs to go back to a 2 day festival.

Third impression: I hated that I let myself wishfully hope for Blur when I knew it was never going to happen (there was legit talk this would be a warm-up to London but it was a long shot.) And also hoping for James.

I need to sit with this line-up some more. I’m tempted by Friday. And Sunday. And heck, Saturday. Have to see…

Regardless, I’m going to be one of the many who will be trying to get into Amoeba tonight for the Franz Ferdinand performance and signing. Wish me luck! It’s going to be a madhouse!

Concert meme from parlance.

First concert?
New Kids on the Block, Magic Summer Tour, September 14, 1990 at Dodger Stadium. 60,000 sold out. 2nd row seats. INSANE.
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Phantom Planet’s show at the Troubadour last Friday was simply incredible.

The entire night was emotional, fun, silly, and surreal. This is a band I’ve loved and followed for 10 years. My first time seeing them live was September 20, 1998. Ten years later, it was hard to believe this would be their final show. Alex said they are on indefinite hiatus. Not a break-up technically, but still… and apparently Sam told folks after the show that maybe they’ll be back in a couple years. As it stands though, Friday night may have been the last time I rock out to “All Over Again”… sniff.

Thinking back to all the memories of shows and signings through the years, I can’t help but get a little choked up. This band and their music shaped and formed most of my 20′s.

I’m so thankful I was there for this special show. It was bittersweet and rather magical. Jacques came back to play a couple songs including Recently Distressed and boy, did that take me back!

The disLike opened. Again. In many ways, this show encapsulated all the things I loved and loathed about the Phantom Planet fandom/world.

I’m sad this amazing band never made it as big as they deserved but I feel lucky to have been part of their journey. Their music lives on and I’ll always have my crush on Sam… le sigh.

Uploaded 8 videos I took. Behind the cut for those interested.
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